But being fed useless information doesn't necessarily mean the high school system as a whole "sucks." It might be a really crappy way to spend your time but it honestly doesn't "suck" on that merit alone.

School seems to be troublesome for teachers as well.. Below is a letter written to me from an actual SED teacher when asked what bothers him regarding the school system.

The number of students in the classroom dictates how the
teacher interacts with their students; for example if the student teacher ratio
is high, the teacher may not only complete the session, but during the delivery
of the lesson may not have time to address student’s concerns. Also, with
smaller student numbers, the teacher has the time to encourage open discussions
and provide insightful feedback.

Students
with technology:

Students with technology is a concern in that it often takes
students off task. It may appears not to be a big deal, but to a teacher who is
trying to make a academic point, and sees student/s paying attention to their
cell phone, it results,in the teacher having
to stop the lesson to ask the student/s to put the phone away. This causes the
off task behavior of the rest of the class.

Teaching
to the Test:

Testing to the test in itself is not the concern, Testing is
a valuable tool to the teacher. Testing gives the teacher insight into how much
students are learning and how much remediation they need to keep up. But, should a teacher’s pay be influenced by
student test scores?

Testing has
become a measure of how effective the teacher is in delivering information and
motivating their students.Which is far
from wrong, but it doesn’t take into consideration those students who have
disabilities. With the philosophy of inclusion, were students are placed in the
least restrictive environment, we have students with learning disabilities,
intellectual handicaps and event autism.Prior to inclusion, the student teacher ration was limited to the needs
of the student. For example those students who were determined to be Severely
Emotionally Disturbed (SED) were placed in a classroom with a 5 to1 student
teacher ratio and a student who was determined to have a learning disability
were placed in a classroom of 15to 1.

So, the question is, can a teacher successfully educate
these students if he/she is placed in a classroom with 35 and sometimes 40
students?

And can a teacher be expected to achieve a satisfactory
outcome from the test scores of their students?

I believe it’s no they can not. So they resort to teaching
to the test, having students memorizing answer and hoping their scores justify
a pay raise.

As stated above, apparently teachers are forced to drill knowledge into us as impersonally as possible because their pay grade depends on it. Even this unsettling revilation doesn't call for a full scale revolution.

So... Does school really suck?

Hell yes.

Here's why:

According to the University of Phoenix College of Education high school students work on homework on an average of 17.5 hours a week. According to the National Center for Education Statistics the average school day is 6.64 hours. 6.64 multiplied by the 5 days in a week and we get 33.2hours of school in a week. Add that to the 17.5 hours of average hours a week spent on homework and we get 50.7 hours of school in total for the average week. This is 3 hours more than the average adult workload per week of 47 hours based on the Gallup 2013-2014 work and education polls. [This does not seem to be taking into account more advanced AP classes as I could find no statistics regarding specifically higher echelon classes.](http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/02/27/students-spend-more-time-on-homework-but-teachers-say-its-worth-it)
(https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sass/tables/sass0708_035_s1s.asp)

Apparently sleep deprivation was a key factor in the 1979 nuclear accident at Three Mile Island, the massive Exxon Valdez oil spill, and the 1986 nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl. Good news is us high school dudes aren't gonna be in charge of any nuclear codes for a while. So what are the dangers of a sleepless student? Well.. 1. "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that fatigueis a cause in 100,000 auto crashes and 1,550 crash-related deaths a year in the U.S. The problem is greatest among people under 25 years old." 2. Sleep disorders and chronic sleep loss can put you at risk for:

[All of the numbered info along with the 1979-86 disasters were courtesy of http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/excessive-sleepiness-10/10-results-sleep-loss]

*You can also check out the link below for a full comprehensive list of risk factors associated with a lack of sleep.*
http://www.startschoollater.net/wake-up-calls-fast-facts.html

It doesn't help that 40% of high schools start before 8:00! AND IT MAKES IT WORSE THAT I GO TO THE 10% OF SCHOOLS THAT START EARLIER THAN 7:30 COME ON, PALMETTO!
(http://www.startschoollater.net/wake-up-calls-fast-facts.html)

So, are students faced with any other demoralizing prospects that make them wish they would stay in bed? Yep yep. Try stress.

According to The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/mar/18/schools.uk8)Most teachers (89%) think stress comes from testing and exams.

According to the American Psychological Association: "Teens report that their stress level during the school year far exceeds what they believe to be healthy (5.8 versus 3.9 on a 10-point scale) and tops adults’ average reported stress levels (5.8 for teens versus 5.1 for adults)." - Let it be known that this number drops from 5.8 to 4.6 during the summer.-"Many teens also report feeling overwhelmed (31 percent) and depressed or sad (30 percent) as a result of stress. More than one-third of teens report fatigue or feeling tired (36 percent) and nearly one-quarter of teens (23 percent) report skipping a meal due to stress."(http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/02/teen-stress.aspx)

But what do psychologists know about psychology?! Let's ask the professionals themselves,
high school students.

[Below I asked a few students what they disliked about school. These are their responses]

{Adjusting conversations to add proper grammar. Original texts are shown on screen. None of these were staged or modified in any way}

Me: Name some things you don't like about school. Thanks!

Afro: Homework, not being able to leave school at lunch, shit school food, shit science department other than Mrs. Joseph she's pretty good. Small school. Shit bathrooms.

Afro: A lot of people are stupid. A lot of people are just not interesting. That's why I wanted to go to SAS. More interesting people. Better opportunities. Administration is shit too! My counselor never helps me. Punishments are too harsh for little things.

Me: Last question, could you empathize with someone killing themselves due to school?

Afro: Yeah because I understand that for some people learning is the most important thing.

[It goes on but it doesn't really matter in the context of this blog]

Me:What don't you like about school?

Bean: It's stressful sometimes but i don't dislike it. Why do you ask?

Me: Is it too stressful?

Bean: Sometimes it's barely manageable. But usually I'm fine. Why? Is this about my hair?

Me: No. Is there anything else you don't like?

Bean: Ummmm.. some personal things, yeah.

Me: Bullies? Peer Pressure?

Bean: Umm maybe a little bit peer pressure.

Me: Ok. That's it?

Bean: I guess, yeah.

(Portion of conversation after this point omitted due to irrelevance)

Me: Last question! Could you empathize with someone feeling suicidal due to school?

Bean: Yes. Well, not based on academics but if he was bullied or pressured then yeah. And that includes bullied by teachers, {teachers mocking them due to their grades.}

Me: Could you empathize with someone feeling suicidal due to school?

Mr. Potato: Yeah...

Me: What don't you like about school?

A Really Smart Guy: Most of the administrators are on power trips, the food is shit quality, every person you meet puts on affectations, and the sheer amount of homework and commitments most students end up accumulating can easily overwhelm you. Now add that to the fact that school is taught in a way that assumes automatically that you are stupid and that you need everything to you, ad that school has only ever been taught a certain way, and you will find that there is better way to learn than every other way besides school. I hate school.

Me: Alright, got it. Could you empathize with someone feeling suicidal due to school?

Star: Yeah, I reconsidered it for a sec because, like some kids take, like all AP's and I know you get zero social life in SAS and some kids have, like parents and expectations and peer pressure and jobs and sleep deprivation and gosh like all my friends have some sort of problem plus personal life problems with family so yeah I'd have sympathy for 'em.
(Next three lines omitted due to irrelevance)
People make such a big deal about high school but it ain't THAT important, ya feel?
*Next three lines are redacted*

Me: College is everything.

Star: No it isn't. We're talking about high school here.

Me: Well, miss Miami-Dade! I'll have you know that everything after college sucks and that if you get into a bad college than your last fun years are spent with trash. [This was to trigger a specific response]

Star: So high school is worth screwing up your mental health? As long as you maintain an alright GPA and apply early and apply for scholarship, you can get in a good school. I'm just sayin'. I'm only going to MDC to get 2 extra years without drowning in debt. I have Florida Prepaid. I can go somewhere else.

Me: So high school does screw with your mental health most of the time!

Star: Of course. Scientifically proven too.

Me: Got what I needed. Thanks, sexy.

[Redacted lines]

Star: Gurl, if you need help on this I gotchu because I'm amazing at ranting about school faults.

Me: Give me more!

Star: Like a lil choo choo train.

Star: WHO THE FUCK DECIDED TO START SCHOOL AT 7:00?! Do they not know how humans develop? Do they not know how glands work? RETARDS. TEENS RELEASE MELATONIN OR SEROTONIN WHATEVER SUPER LATE THAT'S WHY WE FALL ASLEEP LATE BUT WE NEED TO WAKE UP LATE TO MAKE UP THE SLEEP SO WE CAN REGENERATE AND GROW AND SHIT.

Me: Keep it going.

Star: PLUS THE PILES OF HOMEWORK ESPECIALLY FROM AP. COLLEGE CLASSES DON'T GIVE A POO ABOUT YOU THEY GIVE YOU ZERO HOMEWORK . NO. SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE ALL UNRELIABLE AND LIE TO YOU TO TAKE HIGHER LEVEL CLASSES WHEN IT'S HONESTLY NOT! YA KNOW PALMETTO USED TO KICK OUT STUDENTS LAST MINUTE TO KEEP A NICE REP?

Me: I didn't!

Star: PLUS THE FOOD IS DISGUSTING.

Me: Everyone hates the food I kinda like it...

Star: WHEN THIS SCHOOL HAD NO MONEY IT LITERALLY PLAYED A GAME OF "keep a teacher & loose supplies or have supplies and lose an employee." THAT'S SO GAY. SERIOUSLY. WE WENT LIKE WEEKS WITHOUT TOILET PAPER. THE FUCK. THE ONLY GOOD FOOD IS THE POPCORN CHICKEN, THE CHEESE STICKS, THE PASTA, AND SOME OTHER STUFF. BUT THERE'S STUFF THAT PROBABLY PASSES IT'S EXPIRATION DATE OR MAYBE IT DIDN'T BECAUSE IT'S LOADED WITH PRESERVATIVES. THIS PLACE AINT GOT GOOD SECURITY TOO! MY FRIEND BROKE INTO MR.PANTON'S ROOM. EVER WONDER WHY THERE'S A NEW HANDLE WITH A PRETTY LOCK AND A BLACK THING? PLUS PEOPLE ARE SHITTY. AND TEACHERS EXPECT A LOT FROM YOU TOO. LIKE THEY EACH THINK THEIR CLASS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. THE TEACHER THAT ______'S SISTER HAS GAVE OUT THREE QUIZZES IN A WEEK. AND SHE'S AP SO THEY AREN'T EASY. PLUS PARENTS EXPECT SHIT FROM YOU. PLUS THE SOAP DOESN'T SMELL NICE SOMETIMES.

Me: Anything else?

Star: School is boring. They don't care about the well being of kids. If they did they'd have trust counselors.

Even if you're still not convinced that school is trash, I have one more point. When you can, walk outside to your nearest high school and stand anywhere but the front entrance.

Breathe in the architecture..

Do you see it yet?

Give it time...

Any minute now...

Holy crap..

Holy crap it's prison..

Oppressive... bleak... it's legit prison. With arguably worse food!

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in ages 15-24 and 2nd leading cause of death in ages 25-34 in Florida as of Jan 29 12:00 AM.
(http://afsp.org/about-suicide/state-fact-sheets/#Florida)

This must be stopped. As someone who has fought and won the battle with severe depression I can safely say that waking up in the morning to go to school made me feel worthless. I was constantly ridiculed for being fat or having a prosthetic eye. Life, like for many many others, hasn't been easy. I've lost family and friends to get to where I am now. A job as a mediator's assistant and a good head on my shoulders minus a few pounds made me the stainless shield I am today. In fact. I would've never come to terms with my depression unless I realized that one life changing fact...

Thanks for your comment! I was trying to criticize the way high school goes about the learning process rather than the fundamental idea of school itself. I'll definitely try to clarify in more detail next time. Thanks for reading!

Okay, I'd like to start off by saying that school is nowhere near prison. In fact, it's the complete opposite. The reason why schools have gates and security guards is because some kids are mentally unstable and they come to school with weapons. When that kid used the said weapon then the school must be put on lockdown. Secondly, the amount of work we get is to test us. It's just like an internship. If you get A's that means you actually care. If you don't, well it's self explanatory. Lastly, the school lunches are "shit"? There's a text message stating at least 4 different lunches that are good. If you don't like the lunches then bring your own, that's what most kids do. So, instead of bashing on the education system, make the most of it and move on.

Thank you so much for reading! To start off I think there might be a little bit of confusion. I don't necessarily hate high school as a concept. The title is hyperbolic to grab attention. I'm really trying to argue that the way school teaches students and the content it provides is useless. In my opinion only a very select few of us will be able to put anything we learn in our math and chemistry classes to actual use and to depend our future on the amount of primarily nebulous information that you can learn in my opinion just seems silly. Your second point is very valid! It's important to be tested in life to see how much we care. The question I am addressing is why SHOULD we care? Should I really have to commit the Pythagorean Theorem to memory? I don't believe so. I will stand by my opinion that school does indeed aesthetically resemble a prison but that is more of a personal observation. I think it's good to question things, even if we cannot change them. I guess "bashing" is a good way to put it. But I do adress issues I believe are prominent in public high school. I was just overplaying the anger a bit to set a mood.

(P.s I was the only one who said I liked the school lunch of the text messages. All of the others said they hated it.)

Again! Thank you so much for reading and I do appreciate your feedback! I'll take it into consideration!